Bible, King James Version
Ezra
Ezra.6
[1] Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was
made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up
in Babylon.
[2] And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is
in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record
thus written:
[3] In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the
king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let
the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices,
and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height
thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore
cubits;
[4] With three rows of great stones, and a row of new
timber: and let the expences be given out of the king's
house:
[5] And also let the golden and silver vessels of the
house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple
which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and
brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to
his place, and place them in the house of God.
[6] Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river,
Shethar-boznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are
beyond the river, be ye far from thence:
[7] Let the work of this house of God alone; let the
governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house
of God in his place.
[8] Moreover I made a decree what ye shall do to the
elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that
of the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the river,
forthwith expences be given unto these men, that they be not
hindered.
[9] And that which they have need of, both young bullocks,
and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of
heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment
of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day
by day without fail:
[10] That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto
the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his
sons.
[11] Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter
this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being
set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a
dunghill for this.
[12] And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there
destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to
alter and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I
Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed.
[13] Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river,
Shethar-boznai, and their companions, according to that which
Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily.
[14] And the elders of the Jews builded, and they
prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and
Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it,
according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according
to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of
Persia.
[15] And this house was finished on the third day of the
month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius
the king.
[16] And the children of Israel, the priests, and the
Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the
dedication of this house of God with joy,
[17] And offered at the dedication of this house of God an
hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a
sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the
number of the tribes of Israel.
[18] And they set the priests in their divisions, and the
Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at
Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.
[19] And the children of the captivity kept the passover
upon the fourteenth day of the first month.
[20] For the priests and the Levites were purified
together, all of them were pure, and killed the passover for all
the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the
priests, and for themselves.
[21] And the children of Israel, which were come again out
of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them
from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD
God of Israel, did eat,
[22] And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days
with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart
of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in
the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
|